Quick Start Guide
Aegis
Secure Key
PINs must be a minimum length of 7 digits
with a maximum of 15 digits and cannot
contain all sequential numbers or all the
same numbers
(e.g. 123456789, 987654321
or 11111111, 22222222, etc.)
Thank you for purchasing the Apricorn Aegis Secure Key. The Aegis Secure Key works by simply
entering your desired 7-15 digit PIN directly onto the onboard keypad. The Aegis Secure Key can then
be connected to any USB port on any computer. Should the drive be lost or stolen, rest assured that
all data held on the Aegis Secure Key is safe and can’t be accessed by any unauthorized third party
without the access PIN. The ful user’s manual is located on the Aegis Secure Key itself. We recommend
that you unlock the Key using the factory preset PIN (1-1-2-2-3-3-4-4) and download the manual to your
computer prior to initial setup / changing default settings. Once the user’s manual is downloaded, be
sure to create your own unique PIN prior to using your Secure Key. The Aegis Secure Key manual can
also be found at:
www.apricorn.com/media/uploads/ASK_Manual_9-13-2013.pdf
PIN Requirements
Sleep Mode
When the key is not in use, it will enter a sleep
mode in which the key cannot be accessed.
To put the key into standby mode and accept
command inputs, press the
1
3
def
5
jkl
7
pqrs
9
wxyz
2
abc
4
ghi
6
mno
8
tuv
0
button once.
(
The
RED
and
GREEN
LED will blink rapidly.)
Battery Note
The Aegis Secure Key has an internal rechargeable battery with a smart-charging circuit.
The battery will automatically charge whenever it’s plugged into a powered USB port. Since
the Secure Key is shipped with a minimal battery charge, it must be plugged into a powered
USB port for 90 minutes to properly charge your battery prior to its first use.
Locking the Key
To lock the key, simply remove the Secure Key from its USB port, or wait 30 seconds after
unlocking without inserting it into a USB port.
Note: The Aegis Secure Key will not be recognized by any operating system when inserted
into a USB port while it’s in its locked state. Always remove from USB port to perform any key
command functions.
Performing a Complete Reset
Setting Up a New Pin After a Complete Reset
Apricorn provides the following helpful resources:
1. Apricorn’s Website (
http://www.apricorn.com
)
2. E-mail us at
3. Call Technical Support at
1-800-458-5448
from
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. PST, M - F
Technical Support
WARNING: PERFORMING A RESET WILL DESTROY ALL DATA ON THE DISK AND THE SECURE KEY WILL
NEED TO BE INITIALIZED AND REFORMATTED AFTER A NEW ADMIN PIN IS CREATED. IF POSSIBLE, BE
SURE TO BACK UP ALL IMPORTANT DATA PRIOR TO RESETTING THE SECURE KEY.
In the case that the User PIN has been forgotten, or if you would like to delete all data stored on
the Key and configure a new User PIN, follow the instructions below. After reset is performed,
a new User PIN will have to be defined in order to re-enable the Key. Additionally, the Aegis
Secure Key will also have to be reformatted.
1. Beginning in standby mode, press the
1
3
def
5
jkl
7
pqrs
9
wxyz
2
abc
4
ghi
6
mno
8
tuv
0
button to wake the drive.
(The
RED
and
GREEN
LED will blink rapidly.)
2. Press the
1
3
def
5
jkl
7
pqrs
9
wxyz
2
abc
4
ghi
6
mno
8
tuv
0
button. (
RED
LED will blink.)
3. Press and hold the the
1
3
def
5
jkl
7
pqrs
9
wxyz
2
abc
4
ghi
6
mno
8
tuv
0
button and the
1
3
def
5
jkl
7
pqrs
9
wxyz
2
abc
4
ghi
6
mno
8
tuv
0
button for three seconds.
(The
GREEN
and
RED
LED will both blink together.)
4. Press the
1
3
def
5
jkl
7
pqrs
9
wxyz
2
abc
4
ghi
6
mno
8
tuv
0
button three times followed by the
1
3
def
5
jkl
7
pqrs
9
wxyz
2
abc
4
ghi
6
mno
8
tuv
0
button. (No
LEDs will be illuminated.)
5. Press the
1
3
def
5
jkl
7
pqrs
9
wxyz
2
abc
4
ghi
6
mno
8
tuv
0
button.
(The
RED
LED will illuminate solidly, indicating that it isn’t formatted.)
Once the drive is reset either by the method above or if the drive was attacked by brute force
means (10 unsuccessful attempts to unlock the Aegis Secure Key), a new user PIN will need to
be created by doing the following:
1. Press and hold the the
1
3
def
5
jkl
7
pqrs
9
wxyz
2
abc
4
ghi
6
mno
8
tuv
0
button for three seconds.
(The
RED
and
GREEN
LED will illuminate steadily.)
2. Within 10 seconds, enter your new PIN.
(The
RED
and
GREEN
LED will illuminate steadily.)
3. Press the
1
3
def
5
jkl
7
pqrs
9
wxyz
2
abc
4
ghi
6
mno
8
tuv
0
button.
(The
RED
and
GREEN
LED will blink rapidly.)
4. Enter your new PIN again to confirm and and press the
1
3
def
5
jkl
7
pqrs
9
wxyz
2
abc
4
ghi
6
mno
8
tuv
0
once more. (
GREEN
LED
will blink if new PIN is accepted. Key will need to be reformatted upon insertion into a USB port.
GREEN
and
RED
LED will blink alternately if new PIN isn’t acceptable, in which case, return to
step 1 and be sure that your new PIN meets length and complexity requirements outlined on
page one in the PIN Requrements.)
Formatting the Key
The Aegis Secure Key comes
preformatted in NTFS for Windows
®
and is ready for use. For the Mac
OS, the Disk Utility should be used
to reformat the hard drive to a Mac
compatible file system.
(Rev 1.7)
05/01/2015
1
3
def
5
jkl
7
pqrs
9
wxyz
2
abc
4
ghi
6
mno
8
tuv
0
Unlocking the Secure Key
Creating / Changing your PIN Code
1. Beginning in standby mode, press the
1
3
def
5
jkl
7
pqrs
9
wxyz
2
abc
4
ghi
6
mno
8
tuv
0
button to wake the
drive.
(The
RED
and
GREEN
LED will blink rapidly.)
2. Within 10 seconds, enter your PIN (or default PIN if unlocking
for the first time: 1-1-2-2-3-3-4-4)
3. Press the
1
3
def
5
jkl
7
pqrs
9
wxyz
2
abc
4
ghi
6
mno
8
tuv
0
button. (
GREEN
LED will blink with correct PIN
entry;
RED
LED will blink with an incorrect PIN entry.)
With a
correct PIN entry, the key will remain unlocked and ready to be
plugged into a USB port (
GREEN
LED will blink;
BLUE
LED will
either blink or stay on indicating use / activity
. If not plugged into a
USB port within 30 seconds of unlocking, the key will return to
sleep mode and automatically lock itself.
1. Beginning in standby mode, press the
1
3
def
5
jkl
7
pqrs
9
wxyz
2
abc
4
ghi
6
mno
8
tuv
0
button to wake the
drive.
(The
RED
and
GREEN
LED will blink rapidly.)
2. Within 10 seconds, enter the default PIN if creating a PIN for the
first time (1-1-2-2-3-3-4-4) or your User PIN if you’re changing
your existing PIN.
3. Press the
1
3
def
5
jkl
7
pqrs
9
wxyz
2
abc
4
ghi
6
mno
8
tuv
0
button. (
GREEN
LED will blink with correct PIN
entry;
RED
LED will blink with an incorrect PIN entry.)
4. Press and hold the the
1
3
def
5
jkl
7
pqrs
9
wxyz
2
abc
4
ghi
6
mno
8
tuv
0
button for three seconds. (
GREEN
and
RED
LED will illuminate steadily.)
5. Enter the new PIN and press the
1
3
def
5
jkl
7
pqrs
9
wxyz
2
abc
4
ghi
6
mno
8
tuv
0
.
(
GREEN
and
RED
LED will both blink together.)
6. Enter the new PIN again to confirm and and press the
1
3
def
5
jkl
7
pqrs
9
wxyz
2
abc
4
ghi
6
mno
8
tuv
0
once more. (
GREEN
LED will blink if new PIN is accepted;
GREEN
and
RED
LED will blink alternately if new PIN isn’t acceptable,
in which case, repeat steps 4-6 and be sure that your new PIN
meets length and complexity requirements outlined below in the
PIN Requrements.)
